It seems the Strip is pushing the average person out

[chicago081]

Is it just me or does it seem that the Strip is pushing out the average Vegas visitor. With all the high end projects going up and moderate price resorts going down such as Stardust and the upcoming doom of the Imperial Palace reasonable room rates on the Strip are getting hard to come by. It is hard to believe that Harrahs will be tearing down Imperial Palace. This is one of my favorite places on the Strip. The classic car collection is a Vegas must see. Also with the Saharah on the block things won't be getting any better. I hope Harrahs never gets their greedy hands on Barbary Coast, the last place on the Strip with that "old Vegas" feel who has another Vegas must see, Fat Elvis. It seems that the Strip only wants to cater to the "rich and famous" with all of these upscale projects which will force the average "low roller" to look off strip for rooms or not visit Vegas at all.

[Steve]

I think a previous "Topic Of The Week" question is right along the lines of your post.

http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1724

Steve

[wildpitcher]

The strip is pushing the lower rollers out. $200 rooms, $30 buffets, $100 shows are getting to be more than I want to spend (unless the gambling has been good).

[mturner]

I totally agree. they keep building these pricy mega resorts leaving me wit little choices to stay on the strip. ( i only stay if i can get a good deal at Harrahs or BC.

what confuses me tho... is it is wall to wall people at the reg. casinos yet if you walk thru the Venetian or the other mega resorts and you sure won't have trouble finding empty machines. i would think they would want those places full yet their machines are normally tight, for me anyway, so i rarely do anything but look around at the beauty of them. that doesn't make them much money.

perhaps becuz of their size -- they only look empty.

[redstar]

I agree, and it seems a lot of the service and attention is going to young people (the party animals wearing $500 worth of attire) whereby if you are 40 years + you almost feel like you are putting them out. I have been totally ignored sitting at a bar without a drink while rowdy groups of young men and women get served immediately as soon as they walk up to the lounge/bar. I think it time to revive "RENO" pretty soon for us middle-aged and senior gamblers!!!

[sonntex]

I have to disagree, somewhat. For example, Harrahs. Who put all that money in their coffers? The middle class, middle aged folks. They can't continue to operate without us. Yes, they are converting the Flamingo for younger crowd appeal and Caesars caters to the high-roller, but their flagship still offers some pretty good deals and their restaurants are not bad. They can't just cater to the young and very rich. They have to make a place for us, too.

Then, look at MGM. They have Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus. I think there will be places for us low and mid-rollers. We may have to shop a little more to find them, but they will be there.

After all, inflation gets us in the pocketbook with everything else we buy, so why not Vegas.

The main thing that slows us down right now is the airfare.:mad:

[jo45an]

Another poster (Sonnex) is right on the money suggesting the real problem is the outrageous airfares. I get offers for
very reasonable rooms with some added perks, but when I
factor in the airfare from Pgh., the vacation is too expensive for us.:( The recent trip we took to Casino Niagara and the Seneca Casino in N.Y. was very nice, but it really couldn't compare with all the excitement of Vegas! Nothing beats the
"real deal" (sorry about the bad pun!!!!!!!!!).:p


Joan in PA.

[jrinct1]

Yep. If i go i will say OFF strip......that is if i go at ALL this year!

[Y2J2006]

I think in the next 5-10 years places like Luxor, NYNY, Monte Carlo and Mirage will drop their rates because they will by then be like 20 years old or close. And so the novelty of say Luxor will be gone as those newer mega resorts will bring them in more being new. No way will vegas forget the middle class traveller knowing that average joe will spend say $700 on gambling, eating, tours, shows and bars. Instead of all on gambling.

[vegasmann]

that there will be places fro the Middle class to stay on the Strip because think Vegas is not looking out for us.

[dog1dog2]

This trend will gradually begin to self regulate. With the huge increase in rooms being added to the Strip over the next few years, there will be a greater need to fill all of those rooms, and prices will drop accordingly. This is not an all together new phenomenon, just the basic nature of capitalism as it applies here. Not to say that rooms will suddenly get dirt cheap in a few years, just that the market will dictate a "fairer" price, especially when they really need to have people playing in their casinos.

[kassa]

What do you guys consider "reasonable" rates? I go twice a year or so for a week each time, stay at the Mirage, and seldom pay more than $60-80/room (sometimes less if we go in December). End up getting a few hundred in meals and a few nights comped.

You can't stay in a Motel 6 around here (Massachusetts) for less than $79/night.

I don't mind $80-100 for a show because at home the prices would be the same PLUS $30 to park the car.

I do note that the slot club offers have become scarcer since Wynn left, and MGM-Mirage seems to offer deals on all their properties EXCEPT the Mirage, but we still get a few good prices during the year.

[dog1dog2]

I agree with what you are driving at kassa....rates in Vegas still are very reasonable compared to almost any city in the US, and when you consider the quality and amenities, are still actually far better than average. I think people are really referring to the gradual decline in ridiculously low, dirt cheap prices...

[KenoMom]

Having just returned from a 13 day trip to Vegas, I totally agree about the average player being pushed out. In fact, one of the issues that I'm going to comment on in my trip report is the blatant distinction between the have's and have-not's at the Harrah properties. I'm talking about the gold versus diamond/platinum players. It's always been a given that Whales and other highly comped people were treated differently, but the blatant distinction between average versus higher players just didn't sit well with me on this visit. From valet lines, buffet entrances to even the removal of sit down areas....it just didn't feel the same. It made me feel that if I don't spend all of my money at one conglomerate's properties, I'm not wanted. In all honesty, I probably spend a good amount on gambling but I'm penalized for not doing it at only one company's properties. I don't mind not being eligible for comps as frankly some of them are a joke (i.e., 500 points equals a whopping $2.50 in food comps), but to stand in a line and have to wait while those arriving after me are attended to first, got old after awhile.

I can only imagine how it will change further as Luxor, Excaliber and others fully join the MGM players club.

[nlalley]

Sure the rooms are still relatively cheap. But you cant compare the Ramada in your hometown. You cant drop $200 in a half hour at your hometown ramada at a slot machine or table. The allure of Vegas was people thinking they were getting things for free or cheap (when in reality they werent). Look at all the talk of comped food and rooms. Nobody talks about thier losees in the same sentence. How much money on the average do they people lose for these comps.
My question is when they went to the emphasis on food, shows, beverage etc as profit centers did they think that the gambling would continue to be the big % profits area and they would make a killing on both areas. Because now gambling is less than 50%. Did they think they could have thier cake and eat it too. Or maybe they are. In that case old Vegas was making a mistake giving away so much.
It is my understanding that Vegas in the 80's was getting pretty lackluster and the megaresorts were the antidote. Appreciate your imput

[dog1dog2]

Try to not let the "differential treatment" ruin your good time. It is simply the nature of capitalism. If there was no capitalism in effect, there would be no need for casinos, and certainly no need for them to delight us in any way, shape, or form. Casino's aren't doing it as a personal affront, they are just doing what will make them the most overall money, period. I'm not saying that you shouldn't complain if you don't like it though. In fact, quite the contrary: you, and anyone who shares your sentiment, should simply do the only effective thing that you can....stop playing in these casinos....stop staying in them.....stop eating in them. Let's face it, if we don't like the way they are running things, yet continue to give them our business, what incentive do they have to change things to our likings? None. I know that with the massive group that is Harrah's, it is "hard" to avoid patronage at all of their properties, but it is the only real leg that we have to stand on.

[vegasmann]

Watch out people who belonged to one Club They are being changed Over to MGM Players Club and they are doing something with the Points especially those who have points from Before June 2006.I believe they are only going to count till the end of Dec 2006

[KenoMom]

Yes.....that's what they told me last week about the One Club. All points expire December 2006.